ARS | Publication request: Natural product based chromenes as a novel class of potential termiticide

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: March 24, 2011
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Citation: Meepagala, K.M., Osbrink, W.L., Burandt, C., Lax, A.R., Duke, S.O. 2011. Natural product based chromenes as a novel class of potential termiticide. Pest Management Science. 67:1446-1450.

Interpretive Summary: Among the termites infested in the United States, Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus is considered as the most devastating termite pest. In a collaborative effort to find effective, environmentally friendly termite control agents, a natural compound isolated from the leaves of a plant has shown toxicity to these termites in laboratory bioassays. Several analogs of this compound were synthesized in the laboratory that showed higher activity than the natural compound thus making these compounds as novel and lead compounds against termites.

Technical Abstract: Among the termites infested in the United States, Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus is considered as the most devastating termite pest. Chromene analogs derived from a natural product based chromene amide isolated from Amyris texana were tested in a collaborative discovery program for effective, environmentally friendly termite control agents. Several chromene derivatives were synthesized and characterized as a novel class of potential termiticides followed by bioassays. These compounds exhibited significantly higher mortalities compared to untreated controls in laboratory bioassay.